A total of 3,963 runners helped boost the overall field up to 6,420 players for the 2015 Main Event.
It’s still a decrease of 263 players from the 6,683 in 2014 but it was enough to make the 2015 Main Event one of the top 10 biggest tournaments ever held.
The field was also big enough for the WSOP to make good on its promise of paying 1,000 players, which is the most in the history of the tournament.
Spreading the payouts that far had the side effect of deflating the first-place prize to $7.68 million, which is the lowest in over a decade.
Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Aaron Paul in the Mix
Poker superstars Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth were among the numerous players who crammed into the Rio in pursuit of poker’s ultimate prize.
Defending champ Martin Jacobson, who won $10m in last year's Main Event, provided the shuffle up and deal for the day.
Actor Aaron Paul, of Breaking Bad fame, made a surprise appearance at the tables earlier in the day but was unceremoniously eliminated from the tournament when he flopped a set only to have it cracked by Keith Lehr’s flush.
Here’s a look at the Main Event participation from the last 10 years:
2015 Main Event — 6,420 players
2014 Main Event — 6,683 players
2013 Main Event — 6,352 players
2012 Main Event — 6,498 players
2011 Main Event — 6,865 players
2010 Main Event — 7,319 players
2009 Main Event — 6,494 players
2008 Main Event — 6,844 players
2007 Main Event — 6,358 players
2006 Main Event — 8,773 players
Follow our 2015 WSOP Main Event coverage every day from July 5-14 right here!
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